Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Over the weekend, there was quite the buzz at Scienceblogs over the topic of atheists as a group that is oppressed and the “framing” of atheism as being a rational mindset whereas religion is an irrational one. Much of the arguments centered over the latter, with mega-posts by an agnostic poster that goes by the nom de blog mecha (one wonders if it rhymes with “betcha” or “Mecca”).

The discussion is interesting to say the least, and I was tempted to chime in there but thought it would make a good second topic here.

Personally, I find that atheists are, indeed, an oppressed group. I base this on the fact that many atheists are afraid to admit their atheism to friends and family if only to avoid negatively affecting the status quo of relationships -not wanting to rock boats and all. Some are worried what biases might emerge if their employers should discover their atheism. In my own workplace, I wouldn’t fear the latter, but I do worry that religious friends (some of them very religious) would have changed opinions of me. At the very least, they would begin worrying for my eternal soul, since they accept wholeheartedly that one must believe or go to hell. If they ask, I tell them I’m atheist. If not, I don’t bring it up. In a nation where 70% of the public absolutely believes in God and admit they would trust atheists least just for being atheist, not everyone can afford to be open with their lack of belief.Personally, I find that atheists are, indeed, an oppressed group. I base this on the fact that many atheists are afraid to admit their atheism to friends and family if only to avoid negatively affecting the status quo of relationships -not wanting to rock boats and all.With regard to the second main argument that was being tossed back and forth –does atheism equate to rationalism whereas religion equates to irrationalism- I’d say the choice should be clear. Atheists and agnostics who refuse to admit that religion is an irrational position –a delusion- are simply playing politics. In their quest to be PC, they hesitate to make that admission. It’s a hesitation I can understand, but it’s also one that I ultimately find intellectually dishonest. There’s a certain temptation to find a “common ground” with the religionists so as to make progress in areas that the religiously deluded so irrationally affect with their superstitions. These areas include stem cell research, teaching the fact of evolution in public schools, the rights of gays and lesbians, the use of condoms to fight HIV/AIDS, and others.

But this “common ground” simply doesn’t exist. While I’ll agree that there are many liberal religionists that accept things like evolution and want to proceed with stem cell research, the fact of the matter is that the United States leads the western world in two areas: religious conviction and doubt of evolution. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see the correlation and, while that isn’t by itself evidence of causation, there’s no denying it. The most religious nation in the West is also the stupidest.

Religion is a delusion. This is clear. A delusion is an irrational belief held without evidence. I recognize, however, that it is a human condition to allow for delusion. It may even have been a selective advantage at one point in hominid development, creating a foundation for ritual and belief that led to innovations in agriculture and technology. Appeasement of deities allowed early humans to find and ultimately produce food and organize in large, cohesive social bands and societies.

But where earliest religious cults sought appeasement of deities for the betterment of their clans, bands, and cities, modern religious organizations have more selfish reasons for their irrational beliefs: personal relationships with gods and attainment of “everlasting life” is the goal. The percentage of the religious in the United States that wholeheartedly believe that rapture (a term not even mentioned in their Bible) will happen in their lifetimes is very high. If that isn’t the epitome of irrational mindset, then what is?